A journalist was among nearly two dozen individuals sentenced on Tuesday in Uzbekistan for their involvement in fatal anti-regime protests that occurred last year in the former Soviet republic. Authorities reported that 21 people lost their lives during the unrest, which was ignited by proposed reforms that threatened the right to self-determination in the autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan. The violence in Nukus, the capital of Karakalpakstan, compelled the autocratic president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to reverse his decision and abandon the proposal.
Twenty-two individuals faced trial for their roles in the demonstrations, charged with various offenses, including “undermining constitutional order” and looting. All defendants either pleaded guilty or acknowledged their involvement in some violations. Sixteen individuals received prison sentences, including the primary defendant, journalist and lawyer Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov, who authorities claim instigated the protests. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Additionally, two defendants received suspended sentences, while four others had their freedom of movement restricted.
Karakalpakstan, home to fewer than two million people within a nation of 35 million, occupies over a third of Uzbekistan’s territory. The impoverished region is closely linked to the environmental disaster of the drying Aral Sea. Despite its challenges, Karakalpakstan has its own parliament, council of ministers, flag, and anthem. Protests erupted in Nukus on July 1 and 2 in response to a proposal to revoke Karakalpakstan’s constitutional right to hold a referendum on self-determination. Hundreds were arrested during the unrest. President Mirziyoyev attributed the protests to “foreign forces,” although he did not provide further details, before ultimately scrapping the proposed changes.
Since taking power in 2016 following the death of his predecessor, Islam Karimov, Mirziyoyev has implemented various economic and social reforms. However, his regime faces criticism from human rights organizations for suppressing basic freedoms. In November, Human Rights Watch reported that authorities “unjustifiably used lethal force” to disperse primarily peaceful demonstrators, having verified numerous videos and photos from the protests. In December, Uzbek prosecutors announced an investigation into the excessive use of force.
While journalists were permitted to cover the trial of Tazhimuratov and his co-defendants, it was held in Bukhara, approximately 600 kilometers (370 miles) from both Nukus and Tashkent, the capital. Furthermore, journalists and human rights groups have had limited access to information regarding the events in Karakalpakstan. The prosecutor’s office confirmed to AFP that 21 individuals died during the riots; however, details about the victims and the circumstances surrounding their deaths have not been disclosed.
Uzbekistan is the most populous ex-Soviet republic in Central Asia and has historical ties to Russia. However, following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Tashkent and some neighboring Central Asian countries have sought closer relations with China and Europe. Despite its rich natural resources, including gas, Uzbekistan has encountered economic difficulties, including energy shortages during this winter’s historically cold temperatures. In Karakalpakstan, climate change and drought have further impacted the region’s vital agricultural industry.
Comments are closed for this story.